Theme: The Role of Religion, Christian propaganda
The last chapters of the novel really express Stoker’s overarching ideas, that of Christianity strictly adhering to the Christian doctrine offering eternal salvation. Although Christianity is stressed throughout the entire novel, these last few chapters really brings home and ties together the theme of Christian redemption which can be achieved by all, as mentioned in the bible by the Lord, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) as well as “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) This novel, almost a propaganda for Christianity is shown when Dracula as well as the three spouses are defeated by Harker and the gang. Not only is Mina’s purity restored by defeating the monster, but even Dracula representing evil is allowed to know some peace in the end as shown in Mina's diary, "there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never could have imagined might have rested there." The piece and purity they are able to achieve is indirectly suggesting that by rejecting idols (dracula) other than the Lord himself, one can become cleansed of sins and ultimately achieve Christian redemption. "They are racing for the sunset, We may be too late. God's will be done!" This shows that they are fighting in the Lord's will against Dracula. Obviously, in the Bible, Satan is never defeated, but perhaps Bram Stoker believes that in the end, Christianity will prevail as its dominance is benevolence. The role of religion in these last few chapters really tie together the theme of Christianity as it is in essence the conclusion of the story representing the victory that is to come from the Christian community.
Key Passage: Chapter XXV (pg. 286)
There is a poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me, which must destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, you know as well as I do, that my soul is at stake. And though I know there is one way out for me, you must not and I must not take it!" She looked appealingly to us all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband. "What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is that way, which we must not, may not, take?" "That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were I once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on my part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!"
Explanation of Key Passage:
This is definitely a critical passage as it includes several themes that represent the novel as a whole. One of the themes it expresses is bravery when Mina acclaims "give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!" Mina obviously hereby declares her lucid ambitions and mindset in life. She would rather die trying to fulfill "God's will" as mentioned than to stay in certainty of eternal rest by venturing on a journey much too dark and perilous expected from a woman from the Victorian Era. She also unquestionably begs that her immortal spirit can be set free "before the greater evil is entirely wrought." This passage also strongly represents the friendship and bonds that exist between the group sought to exterminate Count Dracula. "Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends who love me," stated by Mina Harker evidently proves her beliefs in friendship as an essentially vital factor of one's greatest spirit.
Literary Devices:
Simile: “Nay”, she said holding up a warning hand. ‘I am deeper in death at this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!’ (page 288) I found this simile rather peculiar as this simile is comparably more complicated than most similes as it does include some miscomprehended ideas. Bram Stoker inputted this quote by Mina Harker to further emphasize the peril that she is in most likely to strengthen the theme of bravery and ambition to defeat Count Dracula through determination and difficulties. I found this simile interesting because of the specific phrase "deeper in death." It is almost as if Bram Stoker is using depth as a measure of purity, death being the most impure, as represented as Hell (Hell usually being represented as down below in the Earth's crust, burning lava, etc.)
Symbolism: Dracula Dracula is definitely expressed as something much more evil than a blood sucking parasite. Bram Stoker, obviously a man with interest in religion specifically Christianity expresses his opinion in the epic novel Dracula. In this novel, he almost lucidly indirectly identifies Dracula as the devil Satan himself. He believes that there is a clear war between the Lord of heaven and Satan, the fallen angel. Not only does he believe of such a war, he believes that God inevitably will prevail over the evil that exists in the world today.
Analysis
After your presentation, reflect on what you learned, the pros and cons of the activity, and what you could do to improve in the future. (Write about a paragraph and post it to your block wiki page)
I think that the presentation of our section of the epic novel Dracula went rather fittingly. Our themes and key passages were a good opening to new ideas and controversial arguments that could be debated as well as interesting explanations to not only our sections individually but the novel as a whole. I think our activity was actually really participation inducing. Our questions were questions that could mostly only be solved if one actually read the text. They were separated into three levels of hardness as well as dice-based meaning anyone could catch up to the leading team. Unfortunately, some of our questions were a little vague and so could have multiple answers. Because of this, we didn't really get the correct answer for a few of our questions. Otherwise, the activity and the presentation overall went rather well.
Theme: The Role of Religion, Christian propaganda
The last chapters of the novel really express Stoker’s overarching ideas, that of Christianity strictly adhering to the Christian doctrine offering eternal salvation. Although Christianity is stressed throughout the entire novel, these last few chapters really brings home and ties together the theme of Christian redemption which can be achieved by all, as mentioned in the bible by the Lord, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) as well as “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) This novel, almost a propaganda for Christianity is shown when Dracula as well as the three spouses are defeated by Harker and the gang. Not only is Mina’s purity restored by defeating the monster, but even Dracula representing evil is allowed to know some peace in the end as shown in Mina's diary, "there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never could have imagined might have rested there." The piece and purity they are able to achieve is indirectly suggesting that by rejecting idols (dracula) other than the Lord himself, one can become cleansed of sins and ultimately achieve Christian redemption. "They are racing for the sunset, We may be too late. God's will be done!" This shows that they are fighting in the Lord's will against Dracula. Obviously, in the Bible, Satan is never defeated, but perhaps Bram Stoker believes that in the end, Christianity will prevail as its dominance is benevolence. The role of religion in these last few chapters really tie together the theme of Christianity as it is in essence the conclusion of the story representing the victory that is to come from the Christian community.
Key Passage: Chapter XXV (pg. 286)
There is a poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me, which must destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, you know as well as I do, that my soul is at stake. And though I know there is one way out for me, you must not and I must not take it!" She looked appealingly to us all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband. "What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is that way, which we must not, may not, take?" "That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were I once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on my part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!"
Explanation of Key Passage:
This is definitely a critical passage as it includes several themes that represent the novel as a whole. One of the themes it expresses is bravery when Mina acclaims "give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!" Mina obviously hereby declares her lucid ambitions and mindset in life. She would rather die trying to fulfill "God's will" as mentioned than to stay in certainty of eternal rest by venturing on a journey much too dark and perilous expected from a woman from the Victorian Era. She also unquestionably begs that her immortal spirit can be set free "before the greater evil is entirely wrought." This passage also strongly represents the friendship and bonds that exist between the group sought to exterminate Count Dracula. "Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends who love me," stated by Mina Harker evidently proves her beliefs in friendship as an essentially vital factor of one's greatest spirit.
Literary Devices:
Simile: “Nay”, she said holding up a warning hand. ‘I am deeper in death at this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!’ (page 288) I found this simile rather peculiar as this simile is comparably more complicated than most similes as it does include some miscomprehended ideas. Bram Stoker inputted this quote by Mina Harker to further emphasize the peril that she is in most likely to strengthen the theme of bravery and ambition to defeat Count Dracula through determination and difficulties. I found this simile interesting because of the specific phrase "deeper in death." It is almost as if Bram Stoker is using depth as a measure of purity, death being the most impure, as represented as Hell (Hell usually being represented as down below in the Earth's crust, burning lava, etc.)
Symbolism: Dracula Dracula is definitely expressed as something much more evil than a blood sucking parasite. Bram Stoker, obviously a man with interest in religion specifically Christianity expresses his opinion in the epic novel Dracula. In this novel, he almost lucidly indirectly identifies Dracula as the devil Satan himself. He believes that there is a clear war between the Lord of heaven and Satan, the fallen angel. Not only does he believe of such a war, he believes that God inevitably will prevail over the evil that exists in the world today.
Analysis
After your presentation, reflect on what you learned, the pros and cons of the activity, and what you could do to improve in the future. (Write about a paragraph and post it to your block wiki page)
I think that the presentation of our section of the epic novel Dracula went rather fittingly. Our themes and key passages were a good opening to new ideas and controversial arguments that could be debated as well as interesting explanations to not only our sections individually but the novel as a whole. I think our activity was actually really participation inducing. Our questions were questions that could mostly only be solved if one actually read the text. They were separated into three levels of hardness as well as dice-based meaning anyone could catch up to the leading team. Unfortunately, some of our questions were a little vague and so could have multiple answers. Because of this, we didn't really get the correct answer for a few of our questions. Otherwise, the activity and the presentation overall went rather well.